JWST Uncovers a Carbon-Rich Planet-Forming Disk Around a Young Star
JWST observations of the transitional disks GM Aur and J1615 reveal that, despite their similar stars, the two systems have strikingly different inner-disk chemistry. J1615 hosts abundant carbon-rich molecules, while GM Aur shows mostly water and OH. The authors suggest that J1615’s low accretion rate and more processed dust help preserve carbon-bearing gas, highlighting how small physical differences can dramatically alter planet-forming environments.
Tracing Planet Formation Through Stellar Fingerprints: A Spectroscopic Look at C/O Ratios in Directly Imaged Exoplanet Hosts
Baburaj et al. conducted a high-resolution spectroscopic survey of five stars hosting directly imaged exoplanets to measure their elemental abundances. They found solar-like C/O ratios for HR 2562, AB Pic, and YSES 1, but significantly sub-solar ratios for PZ Tel and β Pictoris. These differences suggest diverse formation environments and highlight how stellar chemistry can trace planet formation processes.
Unearthing a Disequilibrium: JWST Unveils Methane and Carbon Monoxide in 51 Eridani b
Using JWST’s NIRSpec, Madurowicz et al. directly detected methane and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of the exoplanet 51 Eridani b, confirming chemical disequilibrium caused by atmospheric mixing. Their high-resolution spectra revealed a 4.8σ planetary signal and an atmosphere that is partly cloudy, metal-rich, and about 800 K. This marks JWST’s first direct confirmation of multiple molecules in a cool, Jupiter-like exoplanet.
Bars Across Time: Tracing Galactic Structures Over 12 Billion Years
Using JWST data, Zoe Le Conte and collaborators traced how stellar bars in disc galaxies evolved over 12 billion years. They found the bar fraction declines from 16% at z ≈ 1–2 to 7% at z ≈ 4, showing that stable discs already existed early in cosmic history. Bar lengths stayed roughly constant, indicating that bars and galaxy discs have grown together over time.
JWST Unveils the Hidden Complexity of Chariklo’s Rings
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, Pablo Santos-Sanz et al. observed Chariklo’s rings through a stellar occultation, revealing unexpected changes. The inner ring (C1R) has grown denser, while the faint outer ring (C2R) appears to be fading, possibly due to dust loss. Models suggest C2R contains tiny silicate grains, and the findings indicate Chariklo’s rings are dynamic, evolving, and may even be transient.
Little Red Dots and the Birth of Black Holes
Little Red Dots (LRDs), discovered by JWST, are extremely dense, compact galaxies seen early in the universe. Andrés Escala and collaborators show that, under the “stellar-only” view, their extreme densities make them unstable and prone to runaway star collisions. No matter the scenario, whole system collapse, shrinking sizes, or collapsing cores, the likely fate of LRDs is to form massive black holes, making them prime sites to study black hole seeds in formation.
Makemake’s Hidden Activity: JWST Finds Methane Gas and Hydrocarbon Ices
JWST observations show that Makemake’s surface holds methane, ethane, acetylene, and possibly methanol, arranged in layered ices. The telescope also detected methane gas, either from a thin atmosphere or plume-like outgassing. These findings suggest Makemake is more active and chemically complex than once thought, challenging its image as a frozen, inactive world.
Exploring the Coldest Brown Dwarfs with Near-Infrared Colors
Leggett and collaborators use JWST data to study extremely cold Y dwarfs, comparing their near-infrared colors across JWST, Euclid, and Roman filters. They show that mid-infrared brightness at 4.6 microns reliably tracks temperature, while near-infrared colors vary with metallicity and gravity. The work highlights both the promise of upcoming surveys and the challenges of incomplete atmospheric models.
Icy Giants of the Kuiper Belt: JWST Looks at Salacia and Máni
Using JWST, Wong and colleagues observed the Kuiper Belt Objects Salacia–Actaea and Máni, finding strong water and carbon dioxide ice signatures but no methane or hydrocarbons. Compared to other KBOs, larger bodies show more water ice and weaker CO₂ features, suggesting internal heating and cryovolcanism may refresh their surfaces. These results place Salacia and Máni in the “Prominent Water” class, linking their origins to the inner Kuiper Belt.
A New Light on an Ancient Giant: JWST Unveils the Hidden Stars of Omega Centauri
Using JWST and HST data, Scalco et al. studied the faint stars in Omega Centauri, revealing three main stellar populations with distinct chemical compositions. They found differences in brightness and mass distributions tied to helium, oxygen, and carbon. The study confirms a complex formation history and shows that simple models can’t fully explain the cluster’s stellar makeup.
A Cool Ocean World Beyond Earth? JWST Reveals K2-18 b’s Watery Interior
Renyu Hu et al. used JWST to study the atmosphere of K2-18 b, a temperate sub-Neptune. They detected methane and carbon dioxide but no water vapor, suggesting a water-rich interior beneath a thin hydrogen atmosphere. The findings hint at a possible liquid-water ocean, though alternative models remain plausible.
A New Kind of Trojan: JWST Reveals Unusual Asteroids Near Jupiter
Using JWST, Brown and colleagues studied four small, unusually bright Jupiter Trojans and found they share unique spectral features unlike any known Trojan class. These objects resemble the Trojan Polymele, suggesting the existence of a third, previously unrecognized surface type. The upcoming Lucy spacecraft flyby of Polymele may help reveal their origins.
Cold Clues: JWST Detects Multiple Forms of CO₂ on Saturn’s Moons
Using JWST, Brown et al. detected carbon dioxide ice on eight of Saturn’s moons, revealing four distinct trapping mechanisms. Inner moons show CO₂ trapped in amorphous water ice and dark material, while outer moons display CO₂ linked to organic-rich regions and unique icy environments. These findings suggest complex surface chemistry and highlight the need for further lab and observational studies.
Transient Treasures: Discovering Explosive Events in JWST’s Infrared Dark Field
Using JWST’s NIRCam, researchers found 21 transient events—brief cosmic explosions—in a dark, low-background sky region. Some matched known supernova types, while others were fainter “gap” events that could represent rare or unknown phenomena. Future frequent monitoring and spectroscopy may help uncover their true nature.
Titan’s Changing Skies: New Insights from JWST and Keck
Scientists used JWST and Keck observations to study Titan’s atmosphere during late northern summer. They detected the CH₃ radical for the first time, observed CO and CO₂ emissions across a wide altitude range, and tracked evolving methane clouds. These findings reveal active weather, deep convection, and confirm long-standing predictions about Titan’s atmospheric composition and seasonal climate changes.
From Pebbles to Planets: Exploring the Rich Diversity of Small Worlds Beyond Our Solar System
This review explores the diverse worlds of low-mass exoplanets, focusing on how they form, what they're made of, and how we study them using tools like JWST. It highlights the importance of planet size, disk structure, and atmospheric loss, and even examines clues from planets orbiting dead stars. These findings offer key insights into how Earth-like planets may form and evolve.
Illuminating Star Birth: JWST Reveals the Life Stages of Emerging Star Clusters in M83
This study uses JWST observations to uncover the early life stages of star clusters in the galaxy M83. By classifying clusters based on infrared emissions, the authors track their emergence from gas and dust. Most clusters become exposed within 6 million years, though only 20–30% remain bound. The central galaxy region forms the most massive clusters, highlighting environmental effects on star formation.
Searching for Patterns in the Distant Universe: A Kolmogorov Analysis of JWST Deep Survey Galaxies
N. Galikyan and collaborators used JWST galaxy spectra to study changes in galaxy properties over cosmic time using the Kolmogorov stochasticity parameter. They found a significant shift around redshift z≈2.7, suggesting a change in galaxy evolution or the intergalactic medium. Their results highlight new ways to trace the universe’s history.
Galactic Warps Through Time: Bending Disks from the Early Universe to Today
This study analyzes nearly 1,000 edge-on galaxies to track how common and strong vertical disk warps were over time. The researchers find that S-shaped warps were far more frequent and pronounced around 10 billion years ago, likely due to increased galaxy interactions and gas content. These results suggest warps are key indicators of a galaxy’s dynamic past.
Methane from the Beginning: A Primordial Origin for Methane on Eris and Makemake
Mousis et al. argue that the methane on Eris and Makemake likely formed in the early Solar System’s protosolar nebula, based on their high D/H ratios. Using disk chemistry models, they show that the methane’s isotopic signature matches a primordial origin, not internal production. This supports the idea that many outer Solar System bodies share common icy building blocks.